A profanity-filled confrontation with petrol station staff over vaping on the forecourt has landed EastEnders actor Shane Richie in court, where he is facing a drink-driving charge.

Video footage captures Richie — best known for playing Alfie Moon on the long-running BBC soap — in a heated argument with employees who challenged him about using an e-cigarette after he pulled into a Tesco petrol station shortly after 11 p.m.

 

Video obtained by The Sun appears to show a visibly angry Richie, 62, repeatedly swearing at petrol station staff after they warned him that using a vape on the forecourt posed a safety risk. In the footage, he can be heard telling them to “f*** off” and saying he “didn’t give a f***.”

Staff contacted police, who later arrived at the scene and arrested the actor on suspicion of drink-driving. He is scheduled to appear in court next month.

One source described the incident as surprising, saying Richie’s behavior was particularly concerning if he had been drinking. They added that he became increasingly confrontational with employees, who initially had no idea he was a well-known actor. It was only after officers arrived that they recognized him.

The confrontation began on Wednesday evening when Richie drove his white Hyundai, reportedly with a flat tyre, onto the forecourt of a petrol station in Harlow, Essex.

Employees approached the actor, who was alone and dressed in a red baseball cap, blue sweatshirt, shorts and grey sliders, to tell him he could not use his vape on the premises.

Richie insisted he wasn’t smoking, telling staff it was “a vape.” Holding up the silver e-cigarette, he pointed toward two employees before gesturing for them to move away.

One worker responded that he was recording the exchange for police, explaining that vaping on a petrol station forecourt created a potential safety hazard.

Richie then objected to being filmed and said he would record the staff in return. As he walked back toward his vehicle, he continued to deny he was using a vape. After another employee repeated that it posed a risk, Richie responded with a string of expletives, saying he didn’t care.

 

He then approaches two female workers outside the garage’s kiosk and says: “Can you do me a favour — tell him to go away.”

But one of them tells him she is the manager — before calling police on her mobile. Richie then protests, saying: “Someone’s coming to change my tyre.”

On the video, the female manager can be heard telling police: “He started getting aggressive and he started vaping, so smoking an electric cigarette.”

Richie, leaning on his open car door, then shouts: “Not smoking a cigarette.”

Moments later, police can be seen arriving as the male worker says: “That’s him, that’s him.”

Officers are then seen approaching him, with one policeman saying: “Hello, how you doing, OK?”

He replies “Yeah, you?” before the officer says: “These guys have said you might have been drinking and that you’ve driven this vehicle in here.”

The footage cuts away as dad-of-five Richie, who started his career as a Pontins bluecoat entertainer, walks towards the cop car.

 

It is not illegal to vape on a garage forecourt but companies forbid it, fearing the electronic devices can produce sparks that could ignite petrol.

A drink-driving conviction can be punished with six months in jail, but most offenders are hit with fines and driving bans of at least 12 months.

Richie has played Alfie, known for his fiery romance with wife Kat played by Jessie Wallace, on and off on EastEnders since 2002.

The telly favourite, who came fourth on I’m a Celebrity in 2020, has also hosted shows including Lucky Number and The Shane Richie Experience, and is a regular on the panto circuit.

He recently announced new dates for his “Prat Pack” tour with TV pals Bradley Walsh, Joe Pasquale and Brian Conley.

Three years ago, he revealed he had been through therapy for his temper after growing up with an abusive father — and said he barely touches alcohol.

Essex Police said: “Officers were called to reports of a suspected drink-driver in Church Langley Way, Harlow, shortly before 11.20pm on Wednesday July 29.

“On arrival, officers arrested a man. A charge of drink-driving has subsequently been authorised against Shane Roche, 62, of Surrey.

He is due to appear at Colchester magistrates’ court on Wednesday September 9.”

A spokesman for Richie was contacted.